The brief
St Pauls apartment complex in Wellington is made up of 115 apartments in a multi-unit development spanning four separate high-rise apartment buildings – including podium and basement carparking. Suffering from weathertightness issues, the building required extensive remediation, as well as seismic strengthening and passive fire upgrade works.
Our solution
Prendos acted in the dual role of Technical Expert and Project Manager, including Engineer to the Contract. We were also engaged as Building Surveyor, Architect and Quantity Surveyor, and assisted with a successful high court leaky building claim – providing expert witness services including investigation, reporting and remedial design.
The project drew on the skill and experience of a multi-disciplinary team and involved a great deal of coordination and oversight. Our dual role of Engineer to Contract and Technical Advisor was managed with professionalism, impartiality and client-centred decision making. We ensured any review or award of extension of time applications was conducted in a fair and reasonable way, assessed against the programme and all relevant factors.
The large number of stakeholders meant project communication was extremely important. Residents elected to remain in their apartments, resulting in obvious health and safety implications, as well as the need for greater attention to communication and co-ordination.
Satisfying stakeholders
Prendos demonstrated a professional attitude at all times, drawing on extensive defect diagnosis and remediation experience and professional expertise to develop innovative, sustainable solutions for complex issues. As Project Manager, we assembled a multi-disciplinary team of in-house specialists and sub consultants, coordinating design, site inspections, sign offs and reporting. Consultants were on the same page from the outset and delivery timeframe expectations were fully understood. The team worked together seamlessly – allowing quick, smooth coordination of design information and a notable reduction in delivery time for critical information and therefore costs. Through tight coordination of all consultants, Prendos achieved design changes and details in a timely manner and avoided delays on site. The finished product was cost effective, met best practice standards and exceeded client expectations.
Location: Wellington CBD
Sector: Residential Apartments
Services: Project Management, Engineer to Contract, Technical Expert, Weathertight Remediation, Architecture, Building Surveying, Quantity Surveying, Expert Witness, Passive Fire, Seismic Strengthening
Prendos contact: Leon Goodwin – Senior Project Manager | leon@prendos.co.nz
